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Cleaning Up The Countryside By Killing Vagrants: Iceland’s History Of Executions
In 1550, when the King of Denmark took over the right to administer justice from the Catholic Church and added capital punishment to the Icelandic legal code, a wave of executions swept over the country. By 1830, when the last execution took…
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Ask A Historian: Why Is The Drinking Age In Iceland So High?
With a minimum age of 20 to buy any alcoholic beverages, Iceland has one of the highest drinking ages in Europe. Our fairly miffed 19-year-old intern asked historian Stefán Pálsson why this age is so high. “The drinking age in Iceland has,…
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Check (Your Drawer): Recently Rediscovered £1M Chess Piece May Have Icelandic Roots
When a Scottish antiques dealer acquired a small, worn chess-piece carved from walrus ivory for £5 GBP in 1964 (13,540 ISK in today’s money), he clearly didn’t understand the value of his new purchase. He noted the acquisition down in his records…
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In Search Of Iceland’s First Hamburger
Hamburgers may be ubiquitous in Iceland today, but that wasn’t always the case. When the first hamburger arrived is still a mystery, with some clues. Like many other things Icelanders have adopted from other cultures, there are as many takes on the…
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Former President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir: “I Will Stand Outside Kringlan Collecting Donations”
A proposed hotel, being built on the southwest corner of Austurvöllur square by Parliament, is the flash point of a conflict between former President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and the hotel developers. MBL reports that Vigdís was amongst those who gathered yesterday…
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Ask a Historian: The Origins of Brennivín
Where did brennivín come from and how did it become the nation’s drink? In an effort to dispel rumours surrounding brennivín, the drink of Iceland, we asked historian Stefán Pálsson to clarify the origins of this fiery schnapps. “When the alcohol prohibition…
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Iceland’s President Addresses: “Pornography And Decline”
President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, as an honorary guest and a historian himself, will address an evening of talks about “Klám og hnignun” which means “pornography and decline.” Sögufélag Books, known for high-quality history-related books, has announced two new works that…
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“Who’s In The Picture?” New Exhibition Identifies Unknown People In Old Photographs
The black and white photograph portrays a stern, unfamiliar face. Just below the photo, a handwritten post-it note reads, ‘Erlendur Jónsson?’ It’s the question mark that gets to you—the man in the photo is almost identified, yet the possibility remains that this…
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Comics: Iceland’s Saucy History & The Joys Of Getting A Cat
The Grapevine illustrators are busy, busy bees. Here are the latest works from Elín Elísabet and Lóa. See more comics here.
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Iceland Chosen Best Destination For Students Learning How To Be Vikings
In a remote town on the coast of Norway, a small junior college is currently offering a course to teach students the original Viking crafts. Some of the kids, however, are looking to Iceland for more inspiration. According to Vísir, in fact,…
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Last Words: Whose History?
In Brussels, they have just opened a museum of European History. But is it really possible to tell the unified history of a continent shaped by various groups usually at war with one another? Isn’t it, in some ways, manufacturing history to…
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“Make Your Own Slave” Exercise In Icelandic Primary School Textbook
An Icelandic textbook for primary school children includes an exercise prompting kids to make their own slaves, and not all parents are pleased. In a Facebook post made last Saturday, Icelander Fanný Cloé posted several photos from the textbook Frá Róm til…
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On This Day In 1918, “The Kingdom Of Iceland” Was Born
On this day back in 1918, Iceland took an important step towards being a fully independent republic, and is today celebrated as Sovereignty Day. Most people know that Iceland celebrates its Independence Day on June 17, in honour of becoming officially a…
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70-80 People Have Vanished Without A Trace In Iceland Since 1930
Saknað – íslensk mannshvörf 1930-2018 (Missing – Vanished Icelanders 1930-2018) is the working title of a book by Bjarki H. Hall, slated for release in the latter part of 2017, reports MBL. “The oldest disappearance I’ll cover is from 1930,” Bjarki said.…
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Ask A Historian: Has Iceland Ever Been Involved In Any Wars Or Conflicts
Stefán Pálsson, Icelandic historian, explains: “As a NATO member Iceland have participated in wars and conflicts that NATO has engaged in. For example in Iraq and the NATO programme in Afghanistan there’s been Icelandic personnel, but none of them have been soldiers,…
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Blast From The Past: Introducing Icelandic Wrestling At The Olympics
These days, it seems you can hardly open a paper without news of some Icelandic sporting victories abroad (and do a mental Viking clap). But things weren’t always so good. One of the first times Icelandic athletes competed internationally was at the…
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Reykjavík Crime Walk: A Tale Of Blood And Murder
For the first time in my life, I find myself wishing it were a cold winter evening. The sun is shining and I let it tickle me, relishing its warm touch but disappointed at its awful timing. It really isn’t the right…
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Show Me The Money: 1000 ISK
Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland has issued its own currency, the króna. Iceland never being the best at economic stability, the króna has lost significant value every…
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Reykjavík Of Yore: Squatting, And The Total Failure of Zoning
Ah, the wonderful year of 1919. The year after Great War ended. The Europeans were still dealing with its devastating consequences, not knowing that it was just a short break before the full-blown psychotic breakdown of Adolf Hitler. Communism was still brewing…
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Time Capsule: Hótel Holt’s Bar
Hótel Holt, built in 1965, has changed little over the decades. You can feel it the moment you walk into the lobby, with its low-slung ceilings, warm polished wood walls and tiled floors. But if you want to get real retro, you…
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Reykjavík Of Yore: Sundhöllin
Although houses don’t change as the years pass by, society does. We at Grapevine found this absolutely amazing photo of Jón Ingi Guðmundsson, swimming teacher at Sundhöllin. With him are swimmers from the Icelandic sports club KR. Only three of the women…
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Blast From The Past: Reykjavík Tarzan Arrested For Nudity
In early 1943, observant Reykvíkingar might have seen a naked man running past their window and even, on occasion, climbing up trees. Sightings were mostly in southeastern parts of town, with spotters ideally situated in basement apartments with windows facing the street.…
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Time Capsule: Vísir
This space is normally reserved for those corners of Reykjavík that have held up against the tides of time, anachronistic islands in a sea of modernity. Vísir is no such place. While this modest grocer’s held onto its spot at Laugavegur 1…